Valve-controlled filling machine



P 1944- M. GOLDBERG 2,359,029

VALVE- CONTROLLED FILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ti/g1 MAX GOLDBERG I NV EN TOR.

- ATTO RNEY.

Sept, 2%, WM. M. GOLDBERG 3 9 VALVE-CONTROLLED FILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAX GOLDBERG INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. Z@, @944. M GOLDBERG. mwm

VALVE-CONTROLLED FILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1941 4 5 Sheets-Sheet s MAX GOLD8ERG INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 26, 1944 -UNlTED STATETS PATENT OFFICE VALVE-CONTROLLED FILLING MACHINE Max Goldberg, New York, N. Y. Application November 14, 1941, Serial No. 419,190

ing a base l3 whereby the machine may be se- Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for filling the casings of articles such as those used for making stuffed dolls, toys, etc., with fibrous material such as cotton, capoc, cork, or sawdust.

An object of this invention is to provide a filling machine comprising a hopper and a supply chamber which is under air pressure when operating, and which also has an outlet nozzle kept clear by an'air jet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filling machine for filling small size fabric casings with materials kept under high pressure, and wherein the withdrawal of material from a supply chamber and the discharge thereof into a casing is controlled by air valves.

Another object of this invention resides in providing a filling machine having means for maintaining filling material under air pressure in a supply chamber, the pressure maintaining means comprising a normally closed valve for a pressure air supply and an exhaust valve for ex-' hausting air under pressure in said chamber, the exhaust valve being acted upon by a spring tending to close the valve and being normally kept open by an end portion of a spring supported rod, the rod spring being stronger than the first spring, and wherein means is provided for compressing the stronger spring to cause movement of the rod away from the exhaust valve and to permit closure of the exhaust valve by the first mentioned spring, and then opening the air supply valve by contact of the opposite end portion of the rod with the stem of the air supply valve.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a central vertical cross-sectional view of the filling machine. I

Figure 2 is a central vertical cross-sectional view of a modified filling machine having a vertically slidable piston at its upper end.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the modified filling machine shown in Figure 2.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral it! indicates a filling machine comprising a frame H for supporting a supply chamber l2 inan upright position. The frame I l is preferably provided with standards formcured toa table top or to a floor.

The supply chamber I2 may be shaped with the upper and lower portions in the form of a frustrum of a cone as shown, or may be cylindrical all through. The upper end-of the supply chamber has an inlet l4 operated by a gate valve l5 and terminates in a hopper I6 into which filling material is fed.

The upper portion ofthe supply chamber has an outlet pipe H. A screen I8 substantially in the shape of a hollow frustrum of a cone has been provided at the upper portion of the. chamber 12 and extends all around the chamber and prevents the escape of thefilling material from said chamber while allowing air under pressure and dust to flow out therefrom through the outlet Ipipe IT.

The lower portion of the supply chamber I2 has an outlet nozzle 19 which has been removably mounted in a flange 29 and held by means of a thumb screw 2!. An air inlet pipe 22, connected to a source of compressed air (not shown) terminates in an angular air jet 23 above the outlet nozzle l9 and serves to blow away the filling material-24 collected near the outlet nozzle.

The air jet breaks up or pushes away the 001- lected filling material and clears zle.

Slidably mounted at the outer end of the outlet pipe H is a valve 25 which is urged in a downward direction by a spring 26 interposed between the valve and the upper portion of the outlet pipe |'l.' The valve25 is preferably provided with a lower stem 21 which extends below an apertured extension 28 through which dust may flow out from the supply chamber l2.

Mounted in alignment with the stem 21 is an elongated rod 29 vertically and slidably supported in bearings 30 suitably fastened to the walls of the supply chamber l2. Mounted on the rod 29 is a coil spring 3! interposed between the upper surface of the upper bearing 39 and a pin 32 passing through the rod 29.

The upper end of the rod 29 is in contact with the lower end of the valve stem 21. It is to be the outlet noznoted that the spring 3| has been madestronger than the spring 26 on top of the valve 25 and so that the valve 25 is normally in spaced relation above the valve seat 33.

Mounted in alignment with the rod 29 is valve 35 having a coil spring 36 interposed between the valve .and the lower surface of the air inlet pipe 22. The valve 35 has an upper stem 31, the upper end of which is in spaced relation from the lower end of the rod 29.

A foot treadle 38 connected by a treadle rod 39 to the lower end portion of the valve rod 29 serves for lowering the rod 29. Lowering the rod 29, moves the upper end of the rod from under the valve stem 21 and makes it possible for the spring 26 to lower the valve 25 to its seat 33 and to prevent the escape of air and dust from the chamber 12. Further downward movement of the rod 29 will cause the lower end of said rod 'to traverse the length of a spacing distance 40 between said end and the top of the valve stem 31 and opens the valve 35. Air under pressure flows into the chamber I2 in the form of the constricted jet 23 and puts the chamber under air pressure.

The air escaping from the nozzle l9 carries filling material with it. This material would tend to clog the nozzle entrance but for the reason that the velocity of the jet produced by the air pressure breaks up the material over the nozzle into particles or size small enough to pass through the nozzle. g

It is to be noted that the filling machine lD is employed for filling articles where a comparatively high pressure is required because of the comparatively small size articles to be filled, such as pincushions 50. a

'Figure 2 shows a modified filling machine 5| of larger capacity than the filling machine I!) and preferably of cylindrical form. The portion of the supply chamber 52, made vacant as the filling material is used up, is compensated for by a close fitting piston 53 which advances along with the material downwardly as it is used up.

The upper wall 54 of the chamber 52 has a one-way movement mechanism 55 fixed thereto. The mechanism 55 may comprise. spring-pressed and radially movable detents 5B which are wedge shaped at their lower ends and are in forced engagment with the piston rod 51. The detents are shaped to permit free downward motion of the piston but prevent reverse movement even whenthe chamber 52 is under high air pressure.

The structure shown in Figure 2, provides economy in the consumption of compressed. air inasmuch as when the upper air valve is opened, only a small quantity of air is in the chamber and discharged to the outer atmosphere,

It is to be noted that with the construction shown in Figure 2, in case a comparatively large casing is to be filled, thetotal piston weight must be greater than the upward air pressure against the piston, in order to feed the material continuously toward the jet and nozzle.

Operation rod '29 opens the lower valve 35. Air-under pres sure enters the supply chamber in a directed jet and clears the space above the nozzle l9. Air

escaping through the nozzle l9 carries along with it the filling material'24 into the casing 'of the escaping through the porous material of the casing.

-When operating the modified filling machine 5|, the operator opens the valve l5 and fills the chamber 52 with filling material 24 through the valve 35 is opened. Air .under pressure enters the When'the operator desires to quickly article and fills the article, the conveying air 75 terial under air pressure.

chamber 52 from the air inlet pipe 22in a jet 23 and escapes through the nozzle 19 into a porous fabric casing 58 and carries along the filling material 24 into the casing which is filled with ma- The piston 53 drops due to its weight, stepby-step, every time the treadle 38 is actuated to open the air exhaust or relief valve 25. The detents 56 of the one-way movement mechanism 55 are pivotally mounted on pins 59 and are pressed by springs 60 to bring their lower ends 5| into resilient engagement with the piston rod 51 and prevent reverse movement of the piston.

When the piston reaches the bottom ,of 'the supply chamber 52, the operator pulls on the cable 62 and releases the detents from engagement with the piston rod 51 and then pulls up on the cable 63 and raises the piston to the topmost elevation of the supply chamber. The air above the piston is exhausted through the apertures 64 in the upp rwall 54 of the cylindrical supply chamber 52, keeping the upper part of the chamber 52 under atmospheric pressure,

During the filling operation, dust under air pressure escapes from the supply chamber 52 through an annular screen 65' at the lower portion of the said chamber.

It is to be noted that by opening the valve 25, air inside the supply chamber escapes and brings the air pressure in the said chamber to atmospheric pressure. This lowering of the pressure permits a downward movement of the piston, and so that when the jet 2 3 acts on the compacted filling material, the said material is disrupted and ejected into a casing such as the armpit pad 58.

In accordance with the patent statutes 1 have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for filling small fabric containers, a casing and means for maintaining filling material under air pressure in said casing,

said casing having an outlet for the passage of said filling material therefrom, said air pressure maintaining means including an inclined air nozzle extending into said casing, a normally closed air supply inlet valve connected to said casing, an air relief valve connected to said cassaid inlet valve to cause quick relieving of air 7 and shutting off the flow of air into said casing when a filling action is completed in one of said containers, whereby upon removal ofone of said containers no material within said casin 'will escape out of said outlet.

When the gap 40 is closed, the lower 2. In a machine for filling small fabric containers, a casing and means for maintaining fibrous filling materials under air pressure in said casing, said casing having an outlet for the passage of said filling material therefrom, said air pressure maintaining means including an air nozzle extending into said casing, a normally closed air supply inlet valve connected to said air nozzle, an air relief valve connected to said casing for exhausting air under pressure in said casing, means for closing said air relief valve and simultaneously opening said inlet valve to cause a filling action, and means for opening said air relief valve and simultaneously closing said air inlet valve to cause quick relieving of air and shutting off the flow of air into said casing when a filling action is completed in one of said containers, whereby upon removal of one of said containers no material within said casing will escape out of said outlet.

3. In a machine for filling small fabric containers with fibrous material, a casing and means for maintaining said fibrous material under air pressure in said casing, said casing having an outlet nozzle for the passage of said material therefrom, a container attachable to said nozzle, said air pressure maintaining means including an air supply nozzle extending into the lower portion of said casing, a spring actuated normally closed air inlet valve connected to said air supply nozzle, a normally spring actuated open air relief valve connected to an upper portion of said casing, a fixed screen in said casing and arranged to screen. said air relief valve to prevent said material from escaping through said valve, said valves having stems in spaced-apart relation, a rod slidably supported in bearings extending from said casing and being resiliently actuated upwardly, said rod having its upper end in pressure contact with the stem of said upper or air relief valve and causing said valve to be in a normally open position, the lower end of said rod being in spaced-apart relation from the stem of said lower or air inlet valve and permitting said valve to be normally closed by spring pressure, manually operated means for actuating said rod in a downward direction to release the rod pressure against said upper valve to permit said upper valve to close and simultaneously press against the stem of said lower valve to r open said lower valve and admit air into said casing, whereby a filling action is completed in said container, and whereby upon release of said manually operable means, said rod is moved to a position to open said air relief valve and cause quick relieving of air pressure and said inlet valve is simultaneously closed by its spring and shuts off the fiow of air into said casing when a filling action is completed in said container.

4. In a machine for filling small fabric containers, a casing and means for maintaining fibrous filling material under air pressure in said casing, said casing having an outlet for the passage of said filling material from said casing, said air pressure maintaining means including an air nozzle extending into said casing, a normally closed air supply inlet valve connected to said air nozzle, an air relief valve connected to said casing for exhausting air under pressure in said casing, means for closing said air relief valve and means for simultaneously opening said air inlet valve to cause a filling action in a fabric container, said last named means including a manually operated means movable to a position for opening said air relief valve, whereby said air inlet valve will simultaneously close and cause quick relieving of air and shutting off the flow of air into said casing when a filling action is completed in a container, a weighted piston mounted in said casing and being adapted to move downwardly therein after a joint action of said valves coact in a filling operation, and a one-way movement mechanism operatively connected to said piston and designed to permit step-by-step movement of said piston into said casing while preventing reverse movement of said piston due to air pressure in said casing.

5. In a machine for filling fabric containers, a casing and means for maintaining fibrous filling material under air pressure in said casing, said casing having an outlet for the passage of said filling material from said casing, said air pressure maintaining means including an air nozzle extending into said casing, a normally closed air supply inlet valve connected to said air nozzle, an air relief valve connected to said casing for exhausting air under pressure in said casing, means for closing said air relief valve and simultaneously opening said air inlet valve, means for opening said air relief valve and simultaneously closing said air inlet valve to cause quick relieving of air and shutting off the flow of air into said casing when a filling action is completed in a container, and a weighted piston movably mounted in said casing and being adapted to move downwardly in said casing for compensating for the space made vacant after said joint action of said valves.

MAX GOLDBERG. 

